MEET THE 2019 RUSKAY FELLOWS: SHAPERS OF THE FUTURE - UJA-Federation of New York
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MEET THE 2019 RUSKAY FELLOWS: SHAPERS OF THE FUTURE
The Jewish community relies on knowledgeable and dedicated professionals to
provide vision, set priorities, and take the lead in making strategic decisions for
our future. These Ruskay Institute Fellows are rising to the challenge.
SARA AEDER
The Edgar M.Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life
Special Projects Manager
As special projects manager at the Bronfman Center at NYU, Sara runs the
Interfaith Entrepreneur Fellowship, a program that guides college students in
creating interfaith alliances on campus. She also coordinates Rabbi Lord Jonathan
Sacks’ annual residency at NYU and promotes Jewish engagement in the Arab
Gulf. Sara received her M.A. in Hebrew and Judaic Studies and her master’s in
Public Administration from NYU in December 2017. She lives in Westchester
with her husband and children.
SUSAN BERMAN
Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center
Director of Community Engagement
Susan is director of community engagement at Sid Jacobson JCC, located on the
north shore of Long Island. Susan is an experienced community organizer with a
history of high-impact volunteer engagement in the Jewish community. Dedicated
to social action and social justice, Susan is passionate about matching the needs
of the community with the wealth of resources available. Susan received a master’s
degree from Touro College. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with
family and friends. Susan lives in East Hills with her husband and children.
DANNY COHEN OneTable Director of Finance, Operations and Technology Danny likes to solve problems for organizations that make an impact. As director of finance, operations and technology at OneTable, he oversees the strategic use of data and technology to support the organization’s Shabbat movement. Previously Danny was IT manager for Birthright NEXT. Having worked as a consultant for several Jewish nonprofit clients, he has assisted on website design, digital marketing, and database administration. When he’s not making things run smoothly at OneTable, he’s with his wife and son in their Forest Hills home. HANNAH ELLENSON New Israel Fund Associate Director, NY/Tri-State Region Hannah is associate director of the New York/Tri-State Region at the New Israel Fund, the leading organization committed to democracy and equality for all Israelis, where she previously served as associate director of leadership initiatives and executive assistant to the CEO. Previously Hannah was youth director at Congregation Rodeph Sholom. After completing her B.A. in History and Jewish Studies with honors at Wellesley College, she earned her MPP with a focus on conflict resolution and mediation from Tel Aviv University. Hannah and her wife live in Brooklyn. NATALIE FARAHAN Birthright Israel Excel Associate Director of Community Engagement As associate director for community engagement at Birthright Israel Excel, Natalie works to strengthen Excel Fellows’ personal and professional development and connection to Israel. Previously Natalie worked as the Southern California program director for JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. Natalie holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University, a master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a master’s in Jewish Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College. Natalie is fluent in Hebrew and Farsi and enjoys hiking. ROB FRANCE Shalom Hartman Institute Director of Campus Initiatives Rob France is director of campus initiatives at the Shalom Hartman Institute. Previously Rob was assistant director at Penn State Hillel. Formerly a Teach For America corps member, Rob taught high school ESL in Memphis and also worked for Teach For America’s regional staff. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware where he studied international relations. Rob lives in Harlem with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He enjoys running, soccer, and podcasts.
RACHAEL FRIED JQY Deputy Executive Director Rachael is deputy director at JQY, an organization that supports LGBTQ youth from Orthodox homes. She identifies as a Destigmatist, using her social work and systems design backgrounds to approach taboos and reduce stigmas and biases. Rachael holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Yeshiva University, an MSW in Community Organizing from Wurzweiler, and an MFA from Parsons in Systems Design for Social Change. She is a Schusterman ROI Community member and was recently featured in The New York Jewish Week’s “36 under 36.” In her spare time, Rachael creates lovable monsters. RACHEL GLICKSMAN Avodah Alumni Director Rachel is alumni director at Avodah where she has had many roles: she began as a corps member in New Orleans in 2009 and returned as a staff member, staffing the New Orleans and then the New York Jewish Service Corps programs. She is a native New Yorker and an alumna of Vassar College with a degree in Sociology and Hispanic Studies. Rachel is an avid baker, a half-marathoner, and a devoted aunt. DANIEL GORDON NCSY Chief Relationship Officer, NY, and Associate National Director of Development Daniel is responsible for building upon NCSY’s lay, professional, and institutional relationships and developing new fundraising initiatives, partnerships, and opportunities in New York and around the country. He joined the NCSY team after seven years at Yeshiva University, most recently as the president’s chief of staff and one of the senior leaders of the Institutional Advancement department. Daniel received his B.A. from Yeshiva University and MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. He lives in Riverdale with his wife and two children. JENNIFER STERN GRANOWITZ Park Avenue Synagogue Director, Congregational School Jennifer is director of the Congregational School at Park Avenue Synagogue (PAS) in New York City. She joined the PAS team after receiving her M.A. in Jewish Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary. She studied at The Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a B.A. in Sociology, and was a member of the Hopkins Hillel student board. Jennifer serves as a board member of Camp Ramah New England. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.
NEELY GROBANI American Jewish World Service Senior Development Officer Neely is a senior development officer in the donor engagement department at American Jewish World Service, where she plans events and manages an international travel program for top donors to connect with the communities they support. Prior to joining AJWS, she worked at UJA-Federation of New York. She grew up in Baltimore and graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a B.A. in communication. Neely also cooks at home in Brooklyn, serves on the junior board of the Women’s Prison Association, and travels to new places. CLAIRE HOFFMAN 92Y Deputy Director of Special Events, Development Claire is deputy director of special events at 92Y where she plans and oversees major fundraising events, such as the 92Y Gala and the Extraordinary Women Awards. Previously, Claire worked at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, promoting FASPE, a fellowship for students of law, medicine, journalism, business, and religion, designed to explore contemporary dilemmas through the lens of ethical issues raised by the Holocaust. She began her career in development at MoMA PS1 and at the Museum of African Art, where she encountered diverse narratives and cultures. A graduate of Tufts University, Claire loves to make jewelry, travel, and cook. REBECCA KATZ-WHITE UJA-Federation of New York Planning Director Rebecca is planning director in UJA-Federation of New York’s Jewish Life department and focuses on the organization’s work in Israel. Previously she was part of UJA’s Commission on the Jewish People where she managed grant portfolios dedicated to engaging interfaith families and Israeli civil society. Rebecca worked as a public interest lawyer serving as a public defender, a union labor lawyer, and as attorney for a disability rights organization. Rebecca studied political science at Stanford University and received her J.D. from Stanford Law School. She lives on Long Island with her husband and their two children. MANASHE KHAIMOV Queens College Hillel Director of Community Engagement and Development Born in Uzbekistan, Manashe identifies as Bukharian, Sephardic, Mizrahi, Russian-speaking, and a fourth-generation community organizer. Manashe launched MEROS: Center for Bukharian Jewish Research & Identity at Queens College Hillel and is the founder of the Bukharian Jewish Union Inc, an organization for young professionals. Manashe was included in The New York Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” and is an alumnus of the Nahum Goldmann Fellowship. Manashe received his B.A. in International Marketing from Baruch College and MSW from Hunter College Silverman School of Social Work.
NAVAH KOGEN Columbia/Barnard Hillel Director of Student Life Navah Kogen serves as director of student life at Columbia/Barnard Hillel. Previously, Navah was coordinator of experiential education at Golda Och Academy. She also worked with the Bronfman Fellowships and at the University of Florida Hillel. She holds B.A.s in History from Barnard College and in Talmud and Rabbinics from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and an M.A. in Experiential Jewish Education from The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at JTS, where she was a Jim Joseph Fellow. Navah lives on the Upper West Side where she is active in Darkhei Noam Partnership minyan. LEE LEVIN UJA-Federation of New York Assistant Director, Lawyers Division Lee Levin is assistant director of the Lawyers Division at UJA-Federation of New York. Previously Lee served as the director of business development at Dreambear Productions and was senior program manager at The Jewish Federations of North America, directing the plenary events at the annual General Assembly. Lee founded the website Knox Road, which Technorati named one of the most influential music blogs in the world. Lee received a B.A. in Communication with a Social Influence focus from the University of Maryland. Originally from Massachusetts, Lee resides in Manhattan. ELENA PAULL Union for Reform Judaism Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement, Youth Elena is assistant director, communications and engagement for the Union for Reform Judaism’s youth programs. She has been at URJ since 2012, where she has led cross-functional teams, managed large-scale events, and directed the URJ’s participation in the national March for Our Lives. Previously, she served as youth director at Temple Beth-El in San Antonio, Texas, and spent summers as a camper and staff member at URJ Greene Family Camp. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and lives in New York City with her husband. MAAYAN ROITFARB Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) Project Manager Maayan is project manager in the Allocations Department at The Claims Conference. Born and raised on a kibbutz in the Israeli Negev, Maayan earned a master’s degree at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a bachelor’s degree at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Previously Maayan was associate director of programs at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, research fellow at the USC Shoah Foundation, educator at Yad Vashem, and intern at the Knesset. Maayan volunteers with ASPCA and lives in New York with her husband.
JESSICA ROTHBART The Jewish Education Project Director, Operations and HR Jessica is director of operations and HR at The Jewish Education Project. Jessica earned an MBA in Nonprofit Management and an M.A. in Jewish Professional Leadership from Brandeis University’s Hornstein Program. She holds a B.S. from Boston University in advertising and worked as an advertising copywriter before moving to the not-for-profit sector. Jessica pursues her passion through operations, believing that excellence in people and systems helps organizations move from good to excellent. She published articles in business, education, and Jewish magazines and has run four marathons. MIRIAM RUBIN Romemu Director of Membership Miriam is director of membership at Romemu, where she also served as director of programming. Previously Miriam was a Jewish Life Fellow at the Stony Point Center and Farm, where she created events and developed a food-justice curriculum. Miriam received a B.A. in Environmental Science from Barnard College and worked in environmental education and consulting in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Miriam is passionate about integrating community building, eco-living, and embodied spiritual practice. ADAM SHER Hazon General Manager, Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center Adam’s work at Hazon centers on the vision that the Jewish retreat center is an essential institution in the Jewish communal ecosystem. His goal is to steward Isabella Freedman as a lab exploring the questions of what that can mean — and how to achieve it. Adam has supported hundreds of diverse Jewish retreats, and worked in the essentials of the hospitality business that undergird the content. Adam holds a Masters Degree in Education from Antioch University Seattle, focused on Transformative Learning practice. He has a BA in the Ecology of Myth from The Evergreen State College. He lives in rural Falls Village, CT with his wife (whom he met at Isabella Freedman) and their sons.
JENNIFER SOVRONSKY
UJA-Federation of New York
Associate Director, Accounting and Finance
Jennifer is associate director of accounting and finance at UJA-Federation of
New York, where she focuses on administrative and grants budgets. Jen has
served in many roles at UJA, including collaborating with lay leaders on grant
portfolios, leading the development of the grants database system, and
managing the digital marketing team through a branding redesign. Jen is from
New York and earned a B.A. in Judaic Studies and accounting from SUNY Albany
and an M.S. in Computer Information Systems from CUNY Baruch. She resides
in Manhattan and plans weekend retreats for peers and friends.
JULIA TEJEDA
UJA-Federation of New York
Stewardship Executive
Julia is the stewardship executive in the Philanthropic Leadership Group at
UJA-Federation of New York. She oversees the recognition societies and
stewardship efforts for UJA’s major donors. Born and raised in San Francisco,
California, Julia moved to New York in 2009 and received her B.A. in psychology
and human rights from Columbia University. She lives in Brooklyn and enjoys
exploring new cities, baseball games, and picnicking in Prospect Park.
BRIAN TREGERMAN
AIPAC
Director, Westchester & Riverdale AIPAC
Brian serves as the Westchester & Riverdale director for AIPAC, one of the
organization’s largest pro-Israel communities in the nation. In this role, Brian
is responsible for building and empowering the pro-Israel community and
mobilizing key activists in support of the organization’s legislative efforts to
strengthen the US-Israel relationship. Previously Brian worked in commercial
real estate. He has a B.A. in political science and public policy from SUNY Albany
and lives in White Plains.
This document is accurate as of November 1, 2018.
The Ruskay Institute is supported by a special fund created by the friends and colleagues of
John Ruskay upon his retirement after 15 years as CEO of UJA-Federation of New York. This unique
program is a tribute to his visionary leadership and commitment to professional development.
UJA-Federation of New York cares for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds,
responds to crises close to home and far away, and shapes our Jewish future.
ujafedny.org
@ujafedny
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